A Kind Word Goes a Long Way
The dedicated men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office take great pride in the work we do to keep the public safe. From the deputies out on the streets handling challenging calls, to our deputies in the Jail who are interfacing with inmates, to the calm voice of our dispatchers on the phone during a time of crisis, to the air support crew flying above Santa Barbara County to help extinguish a fast moving brush fire or to help track a dangerous subject, to our forensics team who carefully process crime scenes to preserve and locate critical evidence, to our detectives who work around the clock in search of the truth following a violent crime, to our Coroner’s Office who handle and work with distraught family members during the worst of times, to our volunteer search and rescue team members who are on call 24/7 and spend holidays and weekends sometimes rescuing lost hikers or searching for a lost person, to our support staff who keep the Sheriff’s Office running smoothly and efficiently and who are always willing to help, the list goes on and on.
There are so many acts of kindness displayed daily by members of the Sheriff’s Office that may never be known publicly but they happen more times than we could possibly count. Here is way to thank a deputy or any member of the Sheriff’s Office for the work they do or for something in particular they did to help you.
Please take a moment to share a positive interaction or experience you had with a member of the Sheriff’s Office. We will make sure they get the compliment and words of praise and that their chain of command sees it as well. Thank you in advance for taking time out to brighten their day and remind them again of the importance of what they do and how they made a difference in someone else’s life.
Thank You e-mails can be sent to thanks@sbsheriff.org.
We thank you for supporting us as we protect your safety.
Avoid. Deny. Defend.— Surviving an Active Shooter Event
SBSO X Feed
Per AT&T- outage has been resolved.
🚨 AT&T 911 OUTAGE – LOCAL 911 NUMBERS 🚨
If you're an AT&T wireless user in Santa Barbara County and need 911, call your local agency direct.
📱 TEXT 911 still works countywide. ❌ DO NOT test 911.
We’ll share updates from AT&T as they are shared with us.
Local law enforcement phone numbers:
Lompoc → 805-736-2341
Santa Maria → 805-928-3781
Santa Barbara → 805-882-8200
UCSB → 805-893-3446
Vandenberg SFB → 805-606-3911
Unincorporated / Sheriff → 805-683-2724
🚨 AT&T 911 OUTAGE – LOCAL 911 NUMBERS 🚨
If you're an AT&T wireless user in Santa Barbara County and need 911, call your local agency direct.
📱 TEXT 911 still works countywide. ❌ DO NOT test 911.
We’ll share updates from AT&T as they are shared with us.
SBSO Instagram Feed
🔈Audio on for a BOL from our Communications Dispatch Center 🎅🏼👀
🔈Audio on for a BOL from our Communications Dispatch Center 🎅🏼👀 ...
🚨 Public Service Announcement: Text to 911 🚨
📍 Santa Barbara County, including UCSB properties
Call if you can. Text if you can’t.📱Dispatchers are available and ready to help 👩💻👨💻
A voice call is still the fastest and most effective ☎️
Text to 911 is essential for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired ♿
It is critical in dangerous situations where speaking out loud could put you at risk ⚠️
It can help during medical emergencies when you cannot speak 🏥
During major network disruptions, texts may go through even when calls fail 📶
📌 Tips for Using Text to 911:
Text your exact location so help can be sent quickly 📍
Use clear, plain language
Avoid emojis, slang, or abbreviations in your text
Send a one-on-one message. Group texts do not reach 911
Text to 911 is for emergencies only
📲 Text to 911- Help is just a message away.
🚨 Public Service Announcement: Text to 911 🚨
📍 Santa Barbara County, including UCSB properties
Call if you can. Text if you can’t.📱Dispatchers are available and ready to help 👩💻👨💻
A voice call is still the fastest and most effective ☎️
Text to 911 is essential for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired ♿
It is critical in dangerous situations where speaking out loud could put you at risk ⚠️
It can help during medical emergencies when you cannot speak 🏥
During major network disruptions, texts may go through even when calls fail 📶
📌 Tips for Using Text to 911:
Text your exact location so help can be sent quickly 📍
Use clear, plain language
Avoid emojis, slang, or abbreviations in your text
Send a one-on-one message. Group texts do not reach 911
Text to 911 is for emergencies only
📲 Text to 911- Help is just a message away.
...
☕👮♂️ Join us for Coffee with a Cop in Orcutt!
The Sheriff`s Office is teaming up with Gina’s Piece of Cake for a relaxed, no-agenda meet-up on Saturday, December 20, from 9–11 a.m. Swing by, grab a free cup of drip coffee, and chat with the deputies who serve your community — including Community Resource Deputy Shawn Banks.
These casual conversations help us stay connected, hear what matters to you, and build stronger relationships one cup at a time.
📍 Gina’s Piece of Cake — 205 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt
🕘 Saturday, Dec. 20 | 9–11 a.m.
🍵 Free drip coffee for attendees!
We hope to see you there! #CoffeeWithACop #Orcutt #SBSheriff
☕👮♂️ Join us for Coffee with a Cop in Orcutt!
The Sheriff`s Office is teaming up with Gina’s Piece of Cake for a relaxed, no-agenda meet-up on Saturday, December 20, from 9–11 a.m. Swing by, grab a free cup of drip coffee, and chat with the deputies who serve your community — including Community Resource Deputy Shawn Banks.
These casual conversations help us stay connected, hear what matters to you, and build stronger relationships one cup at a time.
📍 Gina’s Piece of Cake — 205 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt
🕘 Saturday, Dec. 20 | 9–11 a.m.
🍵 Free drip coffee for attendees!
We hope to see you there! #CoffeeWithACop #Orcutt #SBSheriff
...
🎓✨ Congratulations to Community Academy Class 25-2!
Over the past several weeks, this incredible group learned about everything from investigations and patrol operations to custody, communications, and the many specialty units that keep our county safe. 🚓
Programs like this help build a stronger, more connected community by opening doors, answering questions, and creating partnerships that last long after graduation. 🤝💛
We’re grateful for your time, curiosity, and commitment to understanding how your Sheriff’s Office serves you.
👏🎉 Great job, Class 25-2!
🎓✨ Congratulations to Community Academy Class 25-2!
Over the past several weeks, this incredible group learned about everything from investigations and patrol operations to custody, communications, and the many specialty units that keep our county safe. 🚓
Programs like this help build a stronger, more connected community by opening doors, answering questions, and creating partnerships that last long after graduation. 🤝💛
We’re grateful for your time, curiosity, and commitment to understanding how your Sheriff’s Office serves you.
👏🎉 Great job, Class 25-2!
...
Today we celebrated four new deputies upon their graduation from the Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Academy! 🎓💛 Big congratulations to Deputies Durnin, Pursifer, Weber, and Woolley — and an extra round of applause for Deputy Woolley, who received the Leadership Award! 👏⭐
Today we celebrated four new deputies upon their graduation from the Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Academy! 🎓💛 Big congratulations to Deputies Durnin, Pursifer, Weber, and Woolley — and an extra round of applause for Deputy Woolley, who received the Leadership Award! 👏⭐ ...
🎓 Congratulations to Sergeant Jeff DeOrnellas on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! This milestone reflects his dedication to growth, service, and leading by example. We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to the positive impact he’ll continue to make in our organization and community. 👏🚔
🎓 Congratulations to Sergeant Jeff DeOrnellas on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! This milestone reflects his dedication to growth, service, and leading by example. We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to the positive impact he’ll continue to make in our organization and community. 👏🚔 ...
🎃👑 Three-peat CHAMPION! After taking home the pumpkin crown three years in a row, Jenn is officially retiring her paint brushes on top. 🏆🎨
This year’s winning entry? A perfectly painted Wednesday Addams—moody, iconic, and absolutely unbeatable. 🖤🕸️
Thank you, Jenn, for the creativity, the consistency, and the pumpkin legacy you leave behind. The patch won’t be the same without you… but we’ll try to carry on in spooky style. 🍂🧡
🎃👑 Three-peat CHAMPION! After taking home the pumpkin crown three years in a row, Jenn is officially retiring her paint brushes on top. 🏆🎨
This year’s winning entry? A perfectly painted Wednesday Addams—moody, iconic, and absolutely unbeatable. 🖤🕸️
Thank you, Jenn, for the creativity, the consistency, and the pumpkin legacy you leave behind. The patch won’t be the same without you… but we’ll try to carry on in spooky style. 🍂🧡
...
🎃 It’s time to pick your favorite pumpkin! Our team got creative for this year’s pumpkin decorating contest — now it’s your turn to decide the winner!
👇 Vote by commenting the number or name of your favorite pumpkin below.
🕛 Voting closes at noon on Halloween (October 31), and we’ll announce the winner that afternoon!
#PumpkinContest #HalloweenFun #sbsheriff
🎃 It’s time to pick your favorite pumpkin! Our team got creative for this year’s pumpkin decorating contest — now it’s your turn to decide the winner!
👇 Vote by commenting the number or name of your favorite pumpkin below.
🕛 Voting closes at noon on Halloween (October 31), and we’ll announce the winner that afternoon!
#PumpkinContest #HalloweenFun #sbsheriff
...

CountyofSB.org